(SHELBYVILLE) - The state appeals court has upheld a central Indiana man's 40-year prison sentence for causing the death of his girlfriend's 22-month-old son.

The court rejected arguments from 32-year-old Nathan Barker that the sentence was too harsh, ruling his actions were "heinous" in the 2011 shaking and beating death of Jasper Simpson in Shelbyville.

Authorities say Barker told his live-in girlfriend that Jasper had fallen from a couch and that medics had said he was fine, but medics had never been called. Barker pleaded guilty to a felony charge of battery resulting in death.

The Shelbyville News reports the appeals court also disagreed with Barker's argument that the trial judge should've given more consideration to his written apology.